This unit applies to those who are consolidating their career in contexts where advanced cultural dancing skills are required, for example performing character dances in ballets. Performances could be in commercial or competition settings and dancers would usually be performing as members of an ensemble, though some solo work could be expected.
The skills in this unit can also be applied in physical disciplines such as martial arts or fencing where movements are closely allied to dance.
At this level, dancers are constantly refining their technique and expression to produce performances that convey the mood and style of music through complex dance movements. While supervision and guidance are provided in practice sessions, dancers are expected to display a high level of motivation and dedication to their profession by undertaking regular self-directed practice.
Not applicable.
1. Maintain a physical conditioning program | 1.1. Set realistic physical conditioning goals aimed at improving own dance technique 1.2. Apply a range of techniques to improve stamina, strength and flexibility 1.3. Identify risk factors that may inhibit the achievement of goals and seek professional advice as required 1.4. Take fatigue, personal limitations and boundaries into account when undertaking physical conditioning program 1.5. Always perform warm-up and cool-down activities in conjunction with dance activities |
2. Practise cultural dance techniques of increasing difficulty | 2.1. In practice sessions apply increasingly difficult techniques relevant to cultural dance style or physical discipline 2.2. Develop increasingly complex performance attributes 2.3. Work on articulating and embodying the philosophical principles of the dance style or discipline 2.4. Refine ways to apply alternative forms of physical coordination in exercises and routines 2.5. Work on achieving strong harmony of movement when practising dance sequences with a partner 2.6. Build strength and stability in technique by applying a knowledge of anatomical alignment principles in exercises and routines 2.7. Work on improving accuracy in spatial arrangements |
3. Maintain expertise | 3.1. Apply professional work ethic to all practice and performance activities 3.2. Incorporate injury-prevention techniques into all dance and movement activities 3.3. Maintain and update knowledge of dance terminology 3.4. Use feedback from teachers and mentors to identify and develop ways to improve own cultural dance performance skills 3.5. Regularly view performances by industry practitioners as a way of sourcing new ideas and trends, maintaining motivation, and improving own technique |
Required skills
communication skills to:
discuss physical conditioning and movement technique issues with relevant personnel
respond appropriately to feedback on own skill development
work creatively with individual differences
initiative and enterprise skills to:
work creatively with music and dance movements
communicate the mood or style of dance or movement sequences
observe and interpret physical skills
learning skills to:
develop strong cultural dance or movement techniques through:
practising complex movements and routines
a positive attitude to performing
implement a personal physical conditioning program
develop a movement memory
planning and organising skills to plan practice time
problem-solving skills to make complex judgements to advance own technique
self-management skills to:
maintain a professional work ethic
apply safe performance practices
teamwork skills to work collaboratively with others involved in practice sessions and classes.
Required knowledge
principles underlying dance movements and techniques, including:
relationship with gravity
spatial awareness
successional movement
use of breath
folding
extending
rotating
shifting weight
anatomical foundations, including:
articulation of the spine
engagement of the feet
bases of support, including feet, legs, hands, arms and torso
range of motion of the joints
differentiation of the legs and pelvis
terminology associated with chosen cultural dance style or physical discipline
stage geography and directions
musical rhythms, including:
time signatures
beat
tempo
syncopation
philosophical principles of the relevant dance style or physical discipline
history and cultural context in which the dance style or physical discipline is situated.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: perform two complex dance or movement sequences that demonstrate: confident performance skills understanding of the discipline’s particular stylistic qualities muscular strength and flexibility control of movement quality and breadth of movement interpretative and expressive skills strong and precise technique in the chosen cultural dance style or physical discipline respond appropriately to constructive feedback on own performance. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: fully equipped dance studios appropriate music or accompanists. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance evaluation of performances during practice sessions (live or recorded) verbal or written questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and challenges that arise in the context of refining cultural dance techniques direct observation of candidate executing exercises during classes or practice sessions. Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling). |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUADAN507A Refine dance partnering techniques CUAOHS501A Maintain a high level of fitness for performance. |
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Risk factors may relate to: | consistency of a physical fitness regime own ambition expectations of others injury-prevention strategies gender issues body image and eating disorders insufficient hydration poor nutrition incorrectly fitting footwear gender-appropriate performance techniques. |
Warm-up and cool-down activities may include: | stretching joint-mobility exercises flexibility exercises aerobic activities anaerobic exercises coordinated breathing activities floor work. |
Techniques may include: | control in locomotor steps, such as: start and stop varying tempo leading with the left as well as the right foot weight transfer: falling releasing balancing turning movements and steps that include further extension elevation, including complex steps of low, medium and high elevation isolation techniques of increasing complexity, such as isolating, controlling and releasing two or more different parts of the body simultaneously transferring and applying physical information from one area of physical expertise to another rhythmic footwork pair and group work. |
Cultural dance styles may include: | African belly dancing Hungarian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance Irish dance Italian magical, mystical or spiritual dance Moldavian Pacific Islander Polish ritual or sacred Russian Spanish Ukrainian. |
Physical discipline may include: | martial arts fencing yoga circus arts Pilates. |
Performance attributes may include: | musicality with attention to nuances of interpretation movement qualities to movement sequences strong sense of individuality and 'presence' in the execution of sequences sensibility in sequences of increasing difficulty alternative musical time signatures and phrasing as the structural basis of the exercises different expressive qualities applied to movement sequences reliance on individual interpretation. |
Anatomical alignment principles relate to: | articulation of the spine engagement of the feet bases of support, including feet, legs, hands, arms and torso range of motion of the joints differentiation of the legs and pelvis. |
Spatial arrangements relate to: | floor patterns aerial pathways. |
Professional work ethic may refer to: | attentive behaviour in creative practice awareness of: substance abuse addictive behaviours expectations of others eating disorders effective management of personal finances balanced diet energy levels and personal limitations stage and theatre etiquette developing strategies to: cope with performance anxiety maintain motivation effective personal hygiene habits, such as: clean and short nails clean and tied-up hair clean hands ongoing dedication to a physical conditioning exercise program maintaining concentration, focus and physical alertness in all performance activities maintaining costumes and other apparel maintaining a work-life balance punctuality and reliability working creatively with individual differences. |
Injury-prevention techniques may include: | warming up and cooling down before and after class and performance wearing appropriate clothing and footwear applying intent and focus while dancing not overstretching wearing appropriate bandaging and bracing where appropriate to support body appropriate diet and rest using appropriate equipment, such as barre, mirror and sprung floors attention to teacher. |
Performing arts - dance
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.